Improvement in centrifugal machines



W. H. TOLHURST. Centrifugal Machine. No.199,125.

Patented Jan. 8,1878.

WITNESSES: %fl/M/LM ,J/adb,

"1mm. PHOYO-UTHOGRIPNEFL WAS" UNITED {STATES PATENT OFFIo WILLIAM H.TOLHURST, oF TRoY, NEW YORK."

IMPROVEMENT .m CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,125, dated January8, 1878 application filed September 20, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. TOLHURST, of the city of Troy, in thecounty of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Centrifugal Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is an elevation of a centrifugal machine which embodiesthis invention. Fig. 2 1s a sectional elevation of my invention on alarger scale; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are plans of the under sides ofparts of the same on a smaller scale than in Fig. 2.

This invention relates to the means for supporting the upright rotaryspindle upon which the basket is mounted; and it consists of ajournal-socket, in which the basket-spindle is stepped and revolved, andwhich socket has at its bottom a pivot end, which bears so as to becapable of rocking in a circle upon a basestep, which thus supports thespindlesocket, while the latter has an annular side flange, upon whichis an elastic cushion, on which bears a rim-cap, that is separate fromand surrounds the spindle-socket, and is connected with and secured tothe base-step by means of screws, bolts, or equivalent means, by whichthe spindle is adjusted in upright position, and the elastic cushion iscompressed to any required degree to control the gyrating motion of thespindle without having the cushion sustain or subject to the compressingand crushin g action of the great weight of the spindlesocketandspindle, with its basket and heavy contents.

In the aforesaid drawings, Ais the stationary frame-work, with thebasket-casing B thereon;

O, the spindle, with pulley D fast on the spindle; E, thedriving-pulley; F, the driving-belt; G, idle-pulleys, and H afriction-brake, all of any suitable construction. I is a journalsocket,in which the lower portion of the basketspindle O revolves on a step,9'. Fast on the bottom of the spindle-socket I is an end pivot, k,bearing on the base-step L, and capable of rocking somewhat thereon inall directions. The spindle-socket I has around its lower part a lateralflange, m, on which is an elastic cushion, N, of vulcanized india-rubberor other suitable material. P is a separate cap-piece,

vention, the cushion N is preferably made in the form of a flattenedring, conformed to the parts m and P, as shown; but the cushion mayconsist of several segments or separate pieces, arranged at intervalsaround and between the cap-piece P and flange m, all being properlyconformed together.

It will be observed that, with the above-described combination andarrangement of parts, the basket-spindle G can be readily adjusted intothe proper upright position, and the cushion N easily compressed to anydegree required to properly limit and control the natural gyratorymotion of the basket-spindle when unevenly loaded, and that at the sametime the whole weight of the basket and its contents upon the spindle Ois sustained by the rocking end pivot 70 bearing on the base-step L, sothat the latter is not very materially shaken by the gyratorymotion ofthe basket and spindle, and that the cushion N is not subject to any compression or crushing action from the weight of the basket and itscontents on the spindle, and is arranged with the parts P and m in suchposition in respect to the rocking end pivot k and step L as to be verydurable, while effectuallylimiting and controlling the gyratorymovements of the basket-spindle.

In some centrifugal machines heretofore made the spindle-supportingsocket is constructed with a lateral annular flange resting upon anannular elastic cushion, so that all the weight of the spindle-socket,with the spindle and basket, is necessarily sustained by the lateralflange, and also by the elastic cushion under the flange.

In my present invention it is essential that the weight of thespindle-socket, with the spindle and basket, shall not be supported bythe flange of the spindle-socket, nor by the elastic cushion, but shallbe sustained by the central end pivot 7c of the spindle-socket bearingupon the base-step L, so as to rock thereon.

What I claim as my invention is- In combination with the base-step L,the spindle-socket I, supported by its central end pivot 70 bearing uponthe base-step, so as to 'rock thereon, and having the lateral flange m,the cushion N, arranged over and uponithe lateral flange of thespindle-socket, and the clamping-ring 1?, separate from thespindlesocket, and arranged over and upon the cushion, and adjustablysecured to the base-step, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this 18th day of September, 1877.

WILLIAM TOLHURST.

Witnesses:

J GEN 13. GREEN, JAMES 'l. GoonFELLow.

